The SOVA Center presented its annual report on radical nationalism in Russia in 2009

On January 27, 2010, the Independent Press Center hosted the presentation of the annual report “Under the sign of political terror: Radical nationalism in Russia and counteraction to it in 2009,” prepared by the SOVA Center. The presentation was attended by Galina Kozhevnikova, author of the report, deputy director of the SOVA Center, Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA Center and Yuri Dzhibladze, president of the Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for promoting the development of civil society institutions and rights person.

The SOVA Center's report includes an overview of the main trends and phenomena in the field of right-wing violence, the activity of far-right groups, xenophobic manifestations on the part of state representatives, as well as changes in law enforcement practice in prosecuting far-right violence and propaganda in 2009.

In her speech, G. Kozhevnikova noted that in 2009, significant changes were recorded both in the actions of radical nationalists and in the reaction to manifestations of racism and xenophobia in the country. For the first time in six years of systematic observations, an obvious reduction in the number of victims of racist and neo-Nazi motivated violence has become noticeable. This was not least a consequence of the fact that law enforcement agencies liquidated the largest and most aggressive far-right groups in the Moscow region. However, despite this, there is no talk of a tangible change in the situation for the better - the scale of xenophobic violence still remains frightening.

A. Verkhovsky reported on the practice of legal counteraction to right-wing radicals. In 2009, a process of clarification of legislation was noted, and several controversial issues related to the issuance of anti-extremist warnings by the media were resolved. The state has practically abandoned imprisonment as a punishment for racist propaganda that does not involve violence.

However, the state continues to focus on petty crimes, which in reality play virtually no role in the production of xenophobic sentiments and actions (persecution of Internet chatterboxes and graffiti artists, warnings to libraries for storing extremist materials, etc.). Many truly dangerous propagandists go virtually unpunished. The practice of persecution for creating an extremist community is hardly expanding. All this creates a vast field for abuse of legislation and discredits the existing practice of combating hate crimes and racist propaganda.

Y. Dzhibladze spoke about the international situation in connection with combating racism and discrimination.

Then the participants of the press conference answered questions from journalists.

See also:

Sources

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